Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Vigelandsparken
(Oslo): This
stunning park in western Oslo dis-
plays the lifetime work of Gustav
Vigeland, the country's greatest
sculptor. In 30-hectare (75-acre)
Frogner Park, you can see more
than 200 sculptures in granite,
bronze, and iron, including the
Angry Boy,
his most celebrated
work. See p. 117.
•
Det Hanseatiske Museum
(Ber-
gen): Depicting commercial life
on the wharf in the early 18th
century, this museum is housed in
one of the city's best-preserved
wooden buildings. German
Hanseatic merchants lived in sim-
ilar medieval houses near the har-
bor. See p. 278.
16 The Best Buys
Most of the products mentioned
below are available at better shops in
Oslo and Bergen; see “Shopping” in
chapters 5 and 10.
•
Ceramics:
In the 1960s and
1970s, Norway earned a reputa-
tion among potters and stoneware
enthusiasts for its chunky, utilitar-
ian pottery. The trend today is to
emulate the fragile, more decora-
tive designs popular in France,
England, and Germany, so Nor-
wegian ceramists are producing
thinner, more delicate, and more
ornate forms. The best selection is
found at
Tibords Interiør Bergen
Storsenter
(
&
55-55-33-41
) in
Bergen. See p. 289.
•
Costumes:
Norway boasts more
than 450 regional costumes, espe-
cially in the coastal communities.
The original fishermen's sweater
was knit of naturally colored wool
(beige, brown, black, or off-white)
in a deliberately large size, and then
washed in hot water so that it
shrank. The tightly woven sweater
could then resist water. Modern
versions of these sweaters are
known for their nubby texture,
sophisticated patterns, and varying
shades of single colors. The best
purveyor of Norwegian costumes
and folk dress from both north and
south is
Heimen Husflid
in Oslo
(
&
22-41-40-50
). See p. ###.
•
Crystal:
In Norway you can buy
flawless crystal that's as clear as a
Nordic iceberg. Norwegian tastes
lean toward the clean, uncluttered
look, stressing line, form, and har-
mony. Crystal is sold at many
stores, especially in Bergen and
Oslo, but we've consistently been
impressed with the selection on
display at the prestigious
Norway
Designs
(
&
23-11-45-10
) in
Oslo. See p. 137.
•
Knitwear:
Many visitors eagerly
seek Norwegian knitwear. Among
the best buys are hand-knit or
“half-handmade” garments. The
latter, knit on electric looms, are
so personalized and made in such
small quantities that only an
expert can tell that they aren't
completely handmade. The tradi-
tion of women hand-knitting
sweaters while rocking a cradle or
tending a fire thrives in rural Nor-
way, especially during the long
winter. Beautifully made Norwe-
gian knitwear is on sale at
Norway
Designs
(
&
23-11-45-10;
p. 137)
in Oslo, and there's an especially
large selection at the
Oslo
Sweater Shop
(
&
22-42-42-45;
p. 141), also in Oslo.
17 The Best Websites
•
Norwegian Tourist Board, www.
visitnorway.com
: This is the offi-
cial travel guide to Norway, wel-
coming you to this far-northern
